Michael Bardsley, David Narkewicz hope to become 1st new mayor of Northampton in 12 years

Northampton City Councilor Michael Bardsley, left, is seen in this composite photo with acting Mayor David Narkewicz.

NORTHAMPTON – When the votes are counted on November 8, either Michael R. Bardsley or David J. Narkewicz will become the first new elected mayor Northampton has had in 12 years. Each man has already had a taste of the job.

Narkewicz and Bardsley have both served as president of the City Council. In that role, Bardsley has stood in for former Mayor Mary Clare Higgins on a number of occasions, notably during the spring flood of 2007, when Higgins was laid up following surgery. When Higgins left office last month to take a job in human services, Narkewicz became acting mayor by dint of his position as council president.

Although the two candidates have been careful to differentiate themselves from each other, the similarities don’t stop there. Both are progressives who say they are seeking the office out of love for their city. Both support keeping the Community Preservation Act, the fate of which will be decided in a ballot question, and both tout their leadership ability as a prime reason to vote for them. Bardsley and Narkewicz even co-sponsored a Best Practices ordinance when they were on the City Council together that sought to address the need for more public input into municipal decision-making.

That’s not to say the campaign has been a love fest.

MICHAEL R. BARDSLEY

Position sought: Mayor
Age: 62
Address: 50 Union St.
Occupation: Retired educator and guidance counselor
Education: Bachelor’s in English and Master’s in Education from University of Massachusetts
Experience: Eight terms on City Council, five as council president

Bardsley insists that he is more experienced and better qualified to lead than his opponent, citing not only his eight terms on the council but his 33 years as an educator and his work as a union leader.

“I have the depth and breadth of experience,” he said.

In his campaign, Bardsley has portrayed himself as the candidate who listens to the disenfranchised, the one on the outside looking in as an “elite” group of people make decisions.

“There’s been an increasing attitude that there’s a smaller group of people who know best,” he said. “I think I have the confidence of working middle class people. They listen to me and I listen to them.”

Despite Bardsley’s contention that Narkewicz is Higgins’ hand-picked successor, Narkewicz has not let Bardsley define him in their many debates. Instead, he has stayed on message, focusing on his own vision and his own selling points.

“I believe I have not only a positive vision for the city but a proven record of leadership and results,” he said.

DAVID J. NARKEWICZ

Position sought: Mayor
Age: 45
Address: 31 South Park Terrace
Occupation: Stay at home parent, acting mayor
Education: Bachelor’s in political science from University of Massachusetts
Experience: Three terms on City Council; former congressional aide; currently acting mayor

Narkewicz worked as a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Rep. John W. Olver and others before settling in Northampton. In recent years he has been a stay-at-home dad while his wife practices medicine. On the council he has chaired the Transportation and Parking Commission while also working on issues such as energy conservation and sustainability.

Noting that many Higgins supporters are backing Narkewicz, Bardsley depicts his opponent as the candidate who will maintain the status quo.

“I’m the agent of change,” Bardsley said.

Narkewicz insists he’s his own man and the candidate who’s looking forward while Bardsley is looking back.

“If he wants to debate Clare Higgins, that’s a different debate,” Narkewicz said. “I’m the next generation.”